Abstract

RODRIGUEZ-ESPINOSA, Holmes; RESTREPO-BETANCUR, Luis Fernando  and  DEOSSA-RESTREPO, Gloria Cecilia. Knowledge and practice about food, health and exercise in university students at Medellin-Colombia. Perspect Nut Hum [online]. 2015, vol.17, n.1, pp.36-54. ISSN 0124-4108.  https://doi.org/10.17533/udea.penh.v17n1a04.

Background: The study of healthy lifestyles in young people is a matter of interest to prevent onset of chronic non-communicable diseases. Objective: To evaluate knowledge and practices about food, health and exercise in university students and its relationship with gender and socioeconomic level. Materials and methods: A descriptive exploratory cross-sectional study with a sample of 210 men and 210 women, university students from Medellin city, was performed. Results: According to MANOVA with orthogonal canonical contrast, highly significant difference (p <0.0001) between genders in knowledge about dietary habits and aspects associated with weight control, was detected; significant difference (p <0.0354) between genders in beliefs about eating habits and health, was detected. According to multiple correspondence analysis relationship between BMI knowledge and knowledge about their health implications, was found; equally, between socioeconomic level and knowledge related to BMI. Conclusions: College students have a regular insight into their knowledge about healthy eating habits, physical activity and weight control as well as its implications for health. The knowledge is lower among men and lower socioeconomic level.

Keywords : health knowledge; attitudes; practice; food habits; health behavior; exercise.

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